PERILS OF PALIN: The highs and lows of divorcing political gadfly

Politician and conservative activist Sarah Palin holds her son Trig Palin as she speaks during a rally for the Tea Party Express national tour in Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 22, 2010,Joshua Lott / Getty Images

Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her hubby of 31 years are calling it quits after Todd Palin filed for divorce in Alaska.

Ever since Palin burst onto the scene from tundra obscurity in 2008 as the shock running mate for Republican standard-bearer John McCain, the bespectacled beauty and her brood have rarely been out of the headlines.

Todd filed to dissolve the marriage in a document filed Friday in Anchorage. The pair have five children and five grandchildren.

Nov. 3, 2008: Republican U.S. vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin speaks at a campaign rally with her husband Todd Palin at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa. Mark Hirsch/Getty Images

Dec. 5, 2009: Former Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin speaks with a fan as she autographs copies of her book "Going Rogue: An American Life," in a shopping mall in Fairfax, Va. (AFP PHOTO/Paul J. Richards)PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

May 29, 2011: Former U.S. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin rides on the back of a motorcycle before participating in "Rolling Thunder" rally in Arlington, Va. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

May 3, 2013: Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin waves before speaking during the 2013 NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Sept. 9, 2015: Reality television personality Phil Robertson and Sarah Palin pose for photographs during a rally against the Iran nuclear deal on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

He cited the “incompatibility of temperament between the parties such that they find it impossible to live together as husband and wife”.

Impending marital doom didn’t seem to be on Sarah’s radar last week when she joined pal Kid Rock at a Wisconsin concert.

Palin, 55, has called the singer the “most patriotic son of a b—-.”

Before the split, there had been hints of infidelity on the part of both parties.

Tina Fey of Saturday Night Live mocked Palin relentlessly. NBC

YOU BETCHA

Sarah and Todd Palin met in high school and were married in 1988. While he worked in the oil fields, she raised their children and became involved in local politics before ascending to the Alaska governor’s office in 2006.

Two years later, John McCain named the hardcore Republican his running mate.

Maybe Palin wasn’t quite ready for prime time.

She was mocked by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live for her folksy ways and “You Betcha” catchphrase. And she couldn’t name a single newspaper or magazine she had read.

Other high points for the Arctic fox were using words like “refudiate,” and “misunderestimate,” saying the U.S. needs to “stand with our North Korean allies” and thanking a Canadian DJ posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy who complimented her on the documentary of her life.

It was Hustler’s porn parody Who’s Nailin’ Paylin.

“Ohh, good, thank you, yes,” she replied.

Legendary porn star Lisa Ann as Sarah Palin. HUSTLER

PORN ‘N PALIN

The amorous Alaskan set hearts beating among red meat Republicans. As a result, Palin’s porn star doppelganger, Lisa Ann, became an overnight sensation among the three-knuckle shuffle crowd.

She re-appeared in a Trump porn parody.

The videos showed the neophyte politician enjoying group sex with two Russian soldiers, and same-sex action between the star and her college professor. Who’s Nailin’ Paylin also spawned a number of sequels including You’re Nailin’ Palin, Hollywood’s Nailin Palin and Who’s Nailin Palin 2.

The Palins in an official portrait by the State of Alaska. ALASKA.GOV

THOSE KIDS

Also bursting onto the scene in 2008 were Sarah Palin’s children. Bristol — then 17 — was a particular favourite. During the campaign it was revealed she was pregnant — gasp — out of wedlock.

Bristol married her high school sweetheart, they divorced and went to war in a bitter custody battle. She became involved with war hero Dakota Meyer, they split, she became pregnant again.

Party girl Bristol is always down for a good time. INSTAGRAM

Bristol has been in a number of bar brawls and was caught yelling a homophobic slur. Sister Willow has also been caught in a homophobic slur frenzy.

The family’s latest problem child is son Track who was busted for assaulting his girlfriend in 2011, he assaulted his father in 2017 and was arrested again in 2018 for domestic violence. He has struggled with booze and pills after two tours in Iraq.

QUOTE

“No truth to any of the rumours. No divorce. No affairs. No land in Montana. Nothing! All lies and fabrications!” — Sarah Palin’s flack, 2009